Recommendations

On the heels of his success with KEEP IT UNREAL, Mr. Scruff quickly offered TROUSER JAZZ. This album, however, feels a bit rushed and not quite as realized. For one, the songs seem to lack direction or development; “Shrimp” is an example. It’s catchy, yes, but it also goes nowhere. Even the cut-up end track “Ahoy There!” (again celebrating aquatic life) doesn’t feel completely thought through. But tracks like the dark-hued “Beyond” or its equally mysterious brother, “Valley of the Sausages” (with Seaming pulling an Yma Sumac) go a long way in giving the album some pep. “Come on Grandad” encourages you to pull up your trouser legs and shimmy. Still fun, but certainly not as accomplished as his earlier work.

No way, I can't believe this has only been rated 3.9! Seriously, this record is one the best albums to put on if you are in the mood to party, or if you just want a smile while dancing around the house on your own. Come on, you all know you do it! Incidentaly, if you ever notice scruff playing live near you, GO! Had a great time, and the guy has an intuitive ear for getting the crowd moving, while playing one of the most diverse sets I have ever had the privelage to hear. I think a lot of people are put off by the mix of the tunes he produces, but the gold lies in his ability to fuse funk, with a great selection of drums and quirky samples.